Garsdale has a population of just over 200 inhabitants; many of the houses in the dale are used as second homes. The only public building within Garsdale apart from the churches is the village hall which was once the primary school.
There are 18 working farms within Garsdale, because there is such a high annual rainfall of up to 250 mm, crops other than hay and silage are impossible to grow. Most farms are stock rearing, with just two small dairy farms. The main hamlet in Garsdale is called 'The Street' this is located on the A684, 10 miles west of Hawes. Garsdale village itself is a tiny hamlet with a church and two chapels, but no pub!!.
The River Clough runs through Garsdale, it is mainly rocky and shallow but does have the occasional pool which is large enough to swim in. The Clough rises on the north-eastern slopes of Baugh Fell, flows through Grisedale before becoming the river Clough at Garsdale Head. One of the most popular photographic places is the Moorcock Viaduct which crosses Dandy Mire just north of Garsdale. Wild horses roam the countryside freely not a sight often found in today in England.
The market town of Sedbergh lies on the western edge of Garsdale at the foot of the Howgill Fells. Sedbergh was developed where four valleys and four rivers which were originally ancient trading routes all merged. Sedbergh has a unique atmosphere created...
by its cobbled yards, narrow lanes and clusters of small old buildings. Amongst the interesting buildings is a restored 12th century Norman Church and bailey castle with its ancient mote overlooks the town.
The main industries in Sedbergh have been based around farming, the production of wool products and the people in Sedbergh have been mainly employed in weaving and knitting. Today there are many book shops in Sedbergh offering treasures to many book enthusiasts as well as this in August a Festival of Books and Drama takes place.
Garsdale head marks the top of Garsdale; here there is a small train station as the famous Settle Carlisle Railway cuts across at the top of the dale at Garsdale Head en route from Dent Head before carrying onto Mallerstang Common.
The Howgill Fells can be found to the far north west of Garsdale, some of this area lies in Cumbria but the majority falls into the Yorkshire Dales. The Howgill fells are composed of grit stone and slate and form a rolling and rounded effect. There are several famous summits in Howgills including Winde, the Calf, Langdale Fell and Uldale Head. Howgill Fell is also home to several impressive waterfalls, including those at the ravine of Carlin Gill and Cautley Spout which is very close to Sedbergh. Howgill Fells offer a variety of walks for the serious walkers. The shortest walk which is about one and a half miles takes you to the summit of Winder hill; from here you can see panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. There are some more level paths along the banks of the River Rawthey and in the close by woodlands and fields if you prefer a more ground level walk. Eden Valley which extends beyond Howgil Fells marks the boundary between the Lake District and the northern dales.
The geologist Adam Sedgwick who was born in nearby Cowgill in 1785 was the first person to discover the Dent Fault. If you follow the trail around Longstone Common you can see the fault by the river edge which was formed over 270 million years ago. This huge fault in the earths crust was formed when the ancient rocks of Howgill where forced up high above the younger limestone of the Dales. The hardness of the limestone rocks varies in the dales; this has meant that glaciers during the ice age wore the limestone rock down at different rates which lead to the stepped profile of the hills today. Adam Sedgwick went on to become a gifted teacher at Cambridge and was known as the father of British Geology.
In you are looking for a break in a remote location with stunning unspoilt views, unlimited walks, rolling countryside, then Garsdale is the place for you.
